Staff

Marni Standen, B.A. – President

Marni graduated from York University in 1983 with her B.A. in English (minor in Psychology). She began a career in marketing/advertising and over the past 20 years has consistently demonstrated her success in building revenues and relationships within the business community. Most recently, as Director of Business Development for a major entertainment marketing company , Marni enjoyed working exclusively in the development of youth driven programs for Kellogg's, Health Canada, Paramount Studios and 20th Century Fox.

As a woman in recovery, and the mother of a teenage daughter and young son, Marni also brings first-hand experience in understanding the challenges that parents and young adults face in addressing family recovery and personal addictions. Marni is dedicated to guiding young adults at risk in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction toward a life of Excellence, Leadership, and Service.

Shannon Standen: Resident Liaison/Sales & Marketing

Shannon is a powerful example of transformation. As a Graduate of the V3 Tucson program, Shannon brings tremendous empathy to her role as Student Liaison inspiring residents, and their families, through the sharing of her own personal journey in recovery. Shannon leads by example and is a positive role model for those who choose to create a life of excellence. She engages the V3 Tucson community in a truly unique and personal way as her passion for excellence, leadership and service shines through in all that she does. Shannon believes that sobriety means getting honest, reaching out for others and having lots of FUN along the way! Shannon's commitment to service, and her enthusiasm for life, extends beyond the immediate V3 Tucson community and out into the world at large. As an agent for change, Shannon is also a V3 Tucson representative to those exploring treatment options, and solutions, for the at-risk youth population.

William Skinner: Senior Residential Coach/Family Communications

"I work at V3 because it is a place where capable young adults can refrain from destructive lifestyles and begin a journey to an abundant life."

William suffered with the disease of addiction for many years before surrendering to the 12 step process. With 5 years of sobriety, William is a valuable member of the coaching team as he "walks the talk" and places service at the forefront in working with the V3 residents and their families. Currently pursuing a degree in substance abuse counseling, William's contribution is testimony to his passion for making a difference.

Gina McWhorter, LPC, LISAC, CKYT

"I love the way the V3 TUCSON process provokes and confronts the residents, bringing up their darkest negative core beliefs. It is my joy to assist residents to let go of shame and to elevate them to identify as strong, confident, compassionate, responsible young adults."

Gina graduated from St. Edward's University in Austin, TX, with a master's degree in counseling and has been practicing counseling for sixteen years. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor, a Licensed Substance Abuse Counselor and a Certified Kundalini Yoga Teacher. Gina specializes in trauma, eating disorders, and sex and love addiction. Through the use of EMDR and somatic work, she helps clients to integrate painful experiences and connect with their wholeness. Gina has worked at Sierra Tucson where she assisted in the development of a healthy sexuality series. She facilitated Survivor's workshops at The Meadows and is trained in Patrick Carne's Model on Sexual addiction and Pia Melody's codependency model. Gina facilitated yoga workshops and healthy sexuality groups with adolescent and adult populations at Mirasol Inc., a residential eating disorder facility. She facilitates empowerment groups at V3 Tucson Inc., assisting young adults with chemical addictions, eating disorders, and sex and love addiction. Gina presents seminars and trains therapist on identifying negative sexual and relational patterns, the co-occurrence of eating disorder patterns, and healthy sexuality. She also teaches Kundalini yoga and facilitates individual and group sessions for the Pascua Yaqui Tribe. In addition, Gina facilitates women's empowerment and spiritual retreats, assisting women in connecting with their infinite self through the use of art, nature, meditag and has been practicing.

Peter N. Smith, Psy.D., BCIA: Psychologist/Licensed Biofeedback Provider

"I am totally committed to providing state of the art brainmapping and Neurotherapy/Biofeedback service to assist the residents of V 3 Tucson. V 3 Tucson is an outstanding facility with a highly effective program. Its success in working with the most difficult cases of addiction continues to amaze me. It is a great honor to be working in conjunction with their dedicated approach."

Peter is a licensed psychologist with more than twenty-five years of experience in individual, group and family therapy. A diplomat in EEG Biofeedback, Peter has specialized in biofeedback applications with addictions, in addition to treating clients with eating disorders, ADD, and brain injury. He received his doctorate from the Florida Institute of Technology and completed his internship in Clinical Psychology at Mount Sinai Hospital in Hartford Connecticut where he had specialized training in child and adolescent psychology. He also completed post-doctoral studies at the Boston Institute of Behavioral Therapies. He was formerly a practicum director for biofeedback training at the University of New England Occupational Therapy Department. He currently serves the US Air Force as the acting Program Manager for the ADAPT program, a substance abuse service at Davis-Monthan Air Force base. He just completed a one year assignment with the US Army and was the clinical lead for the Traumatic Brain Injury Program at Fort Huachucha in Sierra Vista Arizona. Dr Smith has a recent publication on adolescent offenders with substance dependence and their treatment with the use of neurotherapy.

Tonya A. Thompson, MA, NCC, LPC, CETII

Tonya A. Thompson is a National Board Certified Counselor, a Licensed Professional Counselor, and a Certified Experiential Therapist. She has more than 17 years of experience helping adults, adolescents, and children live authentic lives by becoming real.

The focus of Tonya's work is to help people begin to heal their lives by learning to be relational in their primary relationships.

Tonya is a trauma specialist, working with those whose lives have been changed by trauma; including emotional, physical, spiritual, and sexual abuse.

Tonya's areas of expertise include trauma, addiction, depression, grief/bereavement, addiction, HIV/AIDS, sexuality issues and emotional-release techniques.

Tonya practices individual and group psychotherapy and also leads customized retreats and workshops with some of the topics including: Healthy Sexuality, Recovering from Depression, Feeling the Pain (Grief and Bereavement), Addiction, and Women's Issues. She also offers insightful business programs for staff development on Teamwork and Communication.

Tonya provides workshops for professionals seeking CEU's in the Mental Health area. She is certified to offer CEU's for LPC's, Addiction Specialists, and Social Workers.

Tonya earned a Master of Arts degree from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and is currently pursuing her Masters in Spiritual Psychology at the University of Santa Monica in California. Tonya continuously trains with top professionals in the field concerning trauma, grief/bereavement, addictions, and sexuality issues.

Tonya is a member of the American Counseling Association, National Board of Certified Counselors, The American Society of Experiential Therapists, and the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association. Tonya is EMDR trained (level 2) by the EMDR Institute.

Tonya's private practice is located in the beautiful desert of Arizona. When she is not counseling, Tonya enjoys listening to an eclectic mixture of music, reading, riding her motorcycle, and mostly, spending time with her family and "four legged children!"

Katie Clementson: Sales & Marketing Outreach

Born in San Antonio, Texas, Katie Clementson is currently working on her Bachelors in Fine Arts with a Minor in Photography at the University of Incarnate Word. Katie enjoys working with people via her photography and has been able to view the world through a different lens. Katie strives to live a life of excellence through her own recovery process. She has become very active around the state of Texas and within her home town to educate young people on how to become leaders in their lives and to also live a life of excellence through service work. She brings to V3 first hand experience in vivaciously guiding young people in how to live a life that is happy, joyous and free.

Ann Bruno, MEd

"I LOVE working at V3Tucson because of the continuous transformation I experience when I am present with the residents and their families. I can see and hear their changes and the love they are developing within themselves. The residents are provided with the best of the best staff who are living the principles of recovery daily. To see the young men knitting, grocery shopping and cooking warms my heart. “And ,of course, to experience a “circle” with Gale working with the residents is seeing life in action at V3Tucson."

Ann is no stranger to V3 Tucson or the addiction treatment process. She brings with her 20 years of experiences and education in the treatment of addictive disorders. The family systems approach to healing is priority for her as she continues to do Family Workshops with families and their young adults who are going through the transformation process at V3 Tucson. As a graduate from Illinois State University with a Bachelor Degree in Fine Art, Ann began her career in the public schools as an art teacher and later received her Masters Degree in Counseling and Guidance from the University of Arizona and later worked as a counselor in public school system. She is a licensed substance abuse counselor and a licensed mental health counselor.

After leaving the world of public education, Ann worked at Sierra Tucson and the field of addictions opened up a whole new world for her and has since become a passion. She has served as therapist, marketer, presenter, and program director in the addictions field in nationally know centers; including V3Tucson.

She has written a workbook called: The Workbook: What You Fix on the Inside Shows on the Outside to assist clients with education and exercises on breaking patterns of the past. Ann also does articles or several magazines and has presented workshops on the addictive process at national conferences.

"I love my work and especially like to work with young adults because I can experience them become the powerful individuals their parents have desired for them to become. I know their struggles as I have been down the same road and can relate from my heart to each individual."

With a degree from the University of Arizona in Family Studies and a minor in Counseling and Guidance, Tambre has worked in the recovery field for over 6 years. Prior to V3 Tucson, Tambre worked as a counselor assistant at Mirasol Arizona Centers for Eating Disorders for 4 years. As the Director of Community Service for V3 Tucson, Tambre brings 17 years of sobriety to her coaching of the V3 residents. Her dedication to impacting the transformational experience of those in our care is evidenced by the on-going involvement of V3 with the philanthropic organizations of Ronald MacDonald House, Habitat for Humanity and local shelters.

Jason Murray: Sponsor Lead is a sober man dedicated to helping others.

With a passion for sharing his experience, strength and hope, he leads a weekly interactive Big Book Comprehension Group. Drawing on his 20 years experience in entrepreneurship and business ownership he coaches residents in areas of time management, personal responsibility and accountability. He directs residents to the benefit, responsibility and integrity that come from the sponsor/sponsee relationship thus encouraging the residents to take sober actions thought all areas of life.

James Lofquist: Tai Chi Instructor

James has been studying martial arts for 42 years, and has been teaching Kung-Fu for approx. 22 yrs. His success as a martial artist is evidenced by his recognition as National Kenpo grand champion 1989, 1992 Supergrand National Kung-Fu champion, 1992 International Kung-Fu champion, and 1994 International champion. James has a 6 degree black belt in Kenpo Kung-Fu and a 6 degree black belt in Tai Liu Chuan Fa. He was the Martial Arts Director for White Dragon Kwoon and Instructor for Mulchay, YMCA and is currently the Tai Chi and Qi Gong instructor for Sunstone Cancer Support Services at U.M.C. (University Medical Center). James is a wonderful teacher and role model for the V3 Tucson residential community. His humble commitment to excellence and dedication to recovery is unparalleled.

Nancy and Walt Helmig: V3 Grandparents/Alumni

Moving to Tucson in 2001, we immediately sought to continue our active participation in the 12 step work which had been so invaluable to us many years before. Therefore it was providential that we soon met Gale Standen and became familiar with her remarkable approach to re-shaping the lives of young people with addiction problems. Wanting to be part of this unique program, we have served in the capacity of surrogate grandparents, inter-acting with them as if they were our own. Teaching tennis, knitting, cooking, swimming and even ironing - and most importantly - being part of their struggles and progress. In fact, one of our own grandsons reaped the benefit of overcoming his additions under our very eyes. His graduation from V3 this year absolutely made us feel we had been directed to be part of this success story and verified for us that this family disease can indeed be dealt with.